Suffolk: Council Consults On £42million Savings

A consultation has been launched into how Suffolk County Council should save £42million from its budget in the next financial year.

People are being asked what their priorities are ahead of decisions being taken on spending plans for the coming year.

It will run until 8 January and will include a range of questions that will help to inform decisions taken in February next year.

A spokesperson said: "In 2015/16 the council has to make savings totalling £42 million. It is therefore more important than ever that available funding is focussed on the areas that are important to Suffolk people."

A range of proposals will be considered by the county council's Scrutiny Committee when it meets on 26 November with finalised proposals being discussed by Cabinet in January before the proposed budget is debated at a meeting of Full Council in February.

An online survey has been set up where residents are asked to rank their spending priorities. It is also possible to give views via email and post.

Councillor Jenny Antill, Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for resource management, said: "When there is such pressure on funding it is important that we understand what is a priority for residents, before we take decisions on spending plans for the coming year.

"There are difficult decisions to be taken but we are working hard to make sure that we minimise the impact to services on which people rely - services may be delivered in different ways, or by different people, but the important thing is that residents can still access the support they need."

Consultation runs from 17 November to 8 January 2015. All views received will be fed into the budget setting process.

For more information, including access to the online survey visit the county council's consultation web page.